Investors who lost money in Lou Pearlman's Ponzi scheme were generally happy to hear that he had received the maximum sentence. But they said it could never compensate for the financial and emotional damage he caused.

"I hope they don't put him in a private cell but in the general population, where he gets what he deserves. I seriously doubt if I'll get anything back. Maybe in my next lifetime."

Rosalie Barbieri , 69, Gulfport, who lost about $20,000 that she had earmarked for medical bills

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"I liked the judge's attitude. … It was very creative on his part."

Margie Colucci, 49, Seminole, who lost $200,000

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"I don't understand why it isn't a year for each million stolen, a year for each person's life ruined. … I hope now the truth comes out about how this was allowed by government."

Monty Montgomery, 68, St. Petersburg, who lost $200,000

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"What he did to so many people is unbelievable. They gave him their last penny to invest, and he lost every penny. He should never be let out. No way."

Horst Kayser, 70, Palm Harbor, who lost $95,000

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"I'm not a revengeful person, but you can't imagine the pain of going through something like this. My dad was a house painter, and he had a massive heart attack after we found out about this. I want to believe Pearlman could raise money to pay people back, but I don't want anyone else schemed again. How, all of a sudden, is he supposed to become trustworthy?"

Joe Vidulich of Port Charlotte, whose 85-year-old father and stepmother's family lost about $500,000

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"I'd like to see the guys that sold it to us right in there with Pearlman. And that includes (now Gov.) Charlie Crist. If he had investigated Pearlman back when he first heard about him in 2004, I never would have invested."